The blood clearance and 24-hr organ distribution of five lymphocyte-rich suspensions harvested from different source organs were compared in the Wistar rat, after labeling with [111In]tropolone and intravenous injection. Peripheral blood lymphocytes (chiefly T cells) had the highest levels in the blood and lymph nodes, a relatively higher level in intestine and a lower level in the spleen than other suspensions. Thymocytes cleared promptly from the blood, accumulated markedly in the liver, moderately in the spleen, but very poorly in other organs, including the thymus. Splenic cells (rich in B cells) sequestered predominantly in the spleen and liver. Splenic cells nonadherent to nylon wool (T-cell enriched) had a relatively high uptake in lymph nodes and marrow. Splenic cells from thymectomized rats (NK cell enriched) localized predominantly in the liver and spleen, and poorly in lymph nodes. We conclude that the source organ for harvesting rat lymphocytes is an important determinant in their localization, as well as other factors such as the techniques of isolation, the toxicity and stability of the radioactive label and the cell radiation dose from internalized radioactivity.